The present study was designed as an observational study that included 61 adult men. Groups were compared and significant values were found on using the Student t-test. Pearson’s correlation was used to determine the possible relation among variables.

Results

Sperm count, total motility, and normal morphology were significantly low (P<0.001) in the infertile group compared with the fertile group. Serum LH was significantly (P<0.05) higher compared with the fertile group. The mean value of serum testosterone was low and serum FSH was higher in the infertile group compared with the fertile group, but both were nonsignificant. Seminal free L-carnitine in infertile men was significantly (P<0.001) lower compared with the fertile men. Seminal free L-carnitine was positively correlated (r=0.34) with testosterone, attaining statistical significance (P<0.05). Serum LH was negatively correlated (r=−0.31) (P<0.05), whereas serum FSH was negatively correlated (r=−0.21), but failed to achieve statistical significance.

Conclusion

L-carnitine level in the seminal plasma showed a positive correlation with serum testosterone, a negative correlation with LH, and nonsignificant relation of FSH was found with seminal free L-carnitine.